He started his journalism career in 1992 as a freelance writer for Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany’s largest daily national newspaper and soon specialised in air transport. Jens joined Aviation Week and Aviation Daily in 2000 as one of the European correspondents. Later his role was expanded to cover international air transport. In 2013 he was named Managing Editor Commercial.
Jens frequently appears on radio and TV to comment on industry matters. In 2003, he received the Hugo Junkers Award of the German aviation press for his coverage of Fairchild Dornier’s bankruptcy. He was named the country’s top travel and air transport writer by the Travel Industry Club three times. Jens graduated from the Munich School of Journalism.
The Persian Gulf area carriers have been among the winners of the seismic shift in global air transport. As they continue to grow, upgrading infrastructure will be key to sustaining the pace.
African carrier Fastjet has signed an option to buy insolvent South African low-fare airline 1time. After the deal is confirmed, flight operations are to be resumed with an initial fleet of up to three MD-80s, but Fastjet says the re-launch will not occur until early 2013. Fastjet would pay a nominal price of ZAR1 ($0.12) for the grounded airline.
Etihad Airways is acquiring a 70% stake in Air Berlin’s frequent flyer program, which will be placed into a separate company, Topbonus Ltd. Under the arrangement, which was first revealed in early December, Air Berlin will own 30% of the company, which will be registered in the U.K. but operated from Germany. The €184.4 million ($243.4 million) generated from the transaction will allow Air Berlin to post an annual profit for 2012, its first in five years.
